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weckmann pastries on a wooden platter
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4.78 from 9 votes

Weckmann/Stutenkerl (German St Nicholas Day Traditional Recipe)

St Nicholas Day and Weckmänner bring up the best memories of growing up in Germany, as Saint Nicholas would hand out the brioche-like baked Weckmann pastries. They're a fun non-cookie Christmas baking project to make and decorate with kids.
Weckmänner also go by Stutenkerle, Klausenmann, Pumann, Dambedei, Klaaskerl, Grittibänz, Teigmännli, depending on which region in Germany or other surrounding countries you're in!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Resting Time2 hours 30 minutes
Course: Baking, Breakfast, Brunch, Coffee, Entertaining, Kaffee, Snack
Cuisine: German, Swiss
Keyword: Nikolaus Day tradition, Saint Nicholas Day recipe, St Nicholas Day, Stutenkerl, Weckmann
Servings: 6 Weckmänner
Calories: 501kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Dough

Toppings

Instructions

Make Dough

  • Stir 1 pouch of yeast (7 grams or ½ teaspoon) together with barely warm milk and allow to sit for 5 minutes to bubble up or 'bloom.'
    14 grams active-dry yeast, 250 milliliters milk
  • Gently stir in 1 ½ cups (180 grams) of the flour to create a starter dough. Cover and allow to rest in a warm spot in your house for 2 hours (the longer it's allowed to rise, the better the flavor development).
    500 grams all purpose flour
  • Now add in the remaining flour (320 grams or 2 ½ cups) and remaining yeast (1 pouch/7 grams/½ teaspoon ), egg, butter, sugar, vanilla, lemon peel and salt and and knead until you end up with a smooth dough that peels away from the sides of the bowl. You may need to add just a touch more flour.
    75 grams sugar, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 75 grams butter, 7 grams salt, 1 egg, ½ lemon

Shape and Decorate

  • Shape the Weckmänner by first rolling out the dough thinly and cutting them out OR shape them by hand. When cutting them out, I use either this cookie cutter or make a template from parchment paper (about 6 to 8 inches in size) to cut around.
  • Place them on a baking sheet prepped with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit (180° Celsius).
  • Cover with a clean linen towel and allow to rise one final time until doubled in size (about 30 minutes).
  • Whisk together egg yolk and milk, then brush onto the Weckmänner.
    1 egg yolk, 1 Tablespoon milk
  • Use raisins for eyes and buttons and pearl sugar for clothes or whatever your heart desires. This part of course is what kids have the most fun with.
    raisins, pearl sugar

Bake & Eat

  • Bake in batches on the middle rack for about 18 to 20 minutes OR bake at once in separate sheets and rotate them halfway through baking. If baking two trays at once, they may take just an extra minute or two. Enjoy right away.

Video

Notes

Weckmänner Tips
Leftover Dough: If you have any remaining dough (which you will if you're cutting out your dough men like I do), knead raisins or mini chocolate chips into it, and shape small rolls to be baked alongside the Weckmänner. Also brush the rolls with the egg wash before baking.
Storing: If storing overnight, cover airtight and keep at room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 501kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 565mg | Potassium: 210mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 471IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 4mg